Planning your Guatemala itinerary? There are a few must-sees in this beautiful country, here are our 5 best places to visit in Guatemala.
Flores
Flores is located in Guatemala’s northern Peten region and is situated on an island in Lake Peten. The quiet, picturesque island is one of the 25 most colourful places in the world and has plenty of bars, cafes, restaurants and shops to keep you busy during your stay. Flores is also the gateway to ancient Mayan ruins.
If you are travelling from Belize you will most likely come into Flores, it is worth spending a few nights here. There’s lots to do, including exploring the cobbled town, visiting the market, hiring canoes and swinging off rope swings, shopping amazing thrift stores and, finally, seeing the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tikal ruins.
Lake Atitlan
Lake Atitlan is a stunning lake located in the crater of a super-volcano in the southwestern highlands of Guatemala. The lake is surrounded by steep hills and is considered one of the world’s most beautiful lakes, renowned for its Mayan villages and cone-like volcanoes.
The lake is 130 square kilometres in size and 300 metres at its deepest point! Making it the largest lake in Central America. The enormous Lake Atitlan has many Mayan towns dotted on its shores and the best way to travel to them is by boat. These villages each have their own unique attractions as well as rich history.
Semuc Champey
Don’t miss Semuc Champey, tucked away in rural Guatemala. It might not be the easiest place to get to (expect many hours on bumpy roads through the rural landscape and jungles)… but the journey is definitely worth it! Upon arrival, you typically reach Lanquin, where a 4×4 collects you and transports you to your accommodation. There are many great jungle hostels which provide a truly unique experience.
Semuc Champey comprises stunning rivers, waterfalls, and jungle landscapes, forming a natural monument of exceptional beauty. The Cahabon River flows under and over a 300m limestone bridge, which creates many turquoise rock pools and waterfalls as it flows downstream. You are able to swim and lounge in these pools and it makes for a great day out.
There is also a great hike at Semuc Champey which takes around 45 minutes. You will see signs for the viewpoint at the entrance and hike your way up the steps to El Mirador. From this viewpoint, you can admire the amazing scenery and take the classic photograph of Semuc!
Definitely one of the most beautiful spots in Guatemala!
Antigua
The quirky city of Antigua is easily one of the best places to visit in Guatemala. It is located about an hour west of Guatemala City and is fairly easy to get to from pretty much anywhere in the country.
Antigua, once the capital of Guatemala, fell victim to a series of intense earthquakes in 1773, leading to its destruction and subsequent relocation of the capital.
There are, however, still many amazing historical buildings standing. Antigua is surrounded by volcanoes, many of which you can hike and climb which make for great activities whilst visiting.
There is lots to do in the Colonial city of Antigua, check out my article on the 10 best things to do in Antigua here.
El Paredon
A spot many people will skip, yet one I fell in love with. El Paredon is a small surf town on the Pacific Coast. It consists of about 5 hostels, 10 restaurants and a few Airbnbs. This is what makes it so great! Definitely one of the top places to visit in Guatemala!
El Paredon is a laid back sleepy surf town. The best surf in Guatemala as well as some of the best in the whole of Central America. During the week, the town maintains a fairly relaxed atmosphere, but on weekends, it transforms into a vibrant party destination for both travellers and surfers.
There is really not much to do here, other than surf, sunbathe or go wakeboarding through the mangroves. You will, however, see some of the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises of your life. El Paredon is one of the few beaches in the world where you can watch sunrise and sunset from the same place!
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